Private Search Uncovers Crucial Evidence in Celine Cremer Case, Reigniting Police Scrutiny
A significant development has emerged in the ongoing search for Celine Cremer, a Belgian hiker who vanished in Tasmania in June 2023. A private search team, operating independently, has discovered her mobile phone in an area that authorities admit had been “extensively searched” previously. This discovery has not only reignited hope for finding Ms. Cremer but has also intensified criticism regarding the initial police investigation and the handling of evidence.
The phone was found within hours of a private investigation team, led by renowned Australian private investigator Ken Gamble, commencing their efforts. This development comes as official search operations, conducted by Tasmania Police, search and rescue officers, and SES volunteers, were temporarily suspended due to severe weather conditions, including rain, hail, and even snow in the state’s northwest.
A Critical Discovery Amidst Challenging Conditions
Inspector Andrew Hanson of Tasmania Police confirmed the discovery on Sunday, stating that Ms. Cremer’s friends and family had organized a private search with police support. “Yesterday, a bit before midday, the private search party located a mobile phone, which has been confirmed as belonging to Celine and will now undergo further forensic examination,” he said.
Inspector Hanson elaborated on the potential implications of the phone’s location. “The phone was found in an area that has been extensively searched previously, and phone data, as well as the location it was found, supports our theory that Celine may have, using an app on her phone, elected to leave the Philosopher Falls track to take a more direct route back to her car as daylight faded,” he explained. “We suspect she dropped her phone and continued without it, becoming disoriented in dense terrain.”
The official search is slated to resume once weather conditions improve. Inspector Hanson indicated that the search will now focus on the area where the phone was discovered and the potential route Ms. Cremer may have taken after losing it. “When the search recommences, we will work together with the independent searchers to specifically re-search the area where the phone was located and the likely route Celine may have taken after losing it,” he stated.
Timeline of Disappearance and Initial Search Efforts
Celine Cremer was last confirmed to be in Waratah on Saturday, June 17, 2023. Police believe she drove to Philosopher Falls, parked her vehicle, and embarked on what was intended to be a brief bushwalk. Her disappearance was not reported until nine days later, when friends alerted Tasmania Police after she failed to board the Spirit of Tasmania ferry from Devonport. Officers subsequently located her SUV at the Philosopher Falls car park the following day.
Inspector Hanson highlighted the extreme winter weather conditions that prevailed in the area following Ms. Cremer’s disappearance, including sub-zero temperatures, snow, and rainfall. “Expert medical advice at the time indicated those conditions were not survivable for the duration she is believed to have been exposed,” he noted. The initial police search lasted for two weeks, with subsequent follow-up searches conducted numerous times over the past two years without any further signs of Ms. Cremer until the recent discovery.
Family Involvement and Ongoing Investigation
Ms. Cremer’s mother, Ariane, in Belgium, has been informed of the discovery of the phone. It is understood that four of Ms. Cremer’s loved ones from Europe arrived in Tasmania earlier this week to participate in efforts to locate her belongings, though their direct involvement in the private search party is not confirmed.
A police search controller has been collaborating closely with the private search party to ensure their safety and the proper handling of any findings. Authorities maintain close communication with Ms. Cremer’s family, continuously assessing new information in their pursuit of answers and closure.
Ms. Cremer, an experienced hiker, had been exploring Tasmania for six months prior to her vanishing. Inspector Hanson has previously stated that “there is no evidence of anything other than misadventure.”
Ken Gamble’s company, IWF Global, has undertaken the case on a pro bono basis, driven by a desire to provide answers to Ms. Cremer’s grieving mother. His team has already conducted three searches of the area and is preparing to return with 25 volunteers selected for their bushcraft and medical expertise.
